Pop Polymaths (he said poly)

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

katstevens suggested that I ask about pop stars who do OTHER THINGS. I think this is a fine area of study. First of all, let's find out who they are:

[Poll #1034227]

It seems to be that being a pop star makes it less likely that people will take your other things seriously (or will assume that you will be bad at them). Is this fair - and is it prejudice or precedent that causes it? Has anyone actually read Madonna's children's book? Is anyone going to see Daft Punk's robot movie in the serious expectation that it will be good?

USW!

Comments

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

A talent for "entertaining" really - with a healthy dose of Protestant work ethic, if one is determined and confident enough why should one NOT be able to act as well as sing? Plus the obvious realisation that pop singing and acting are pretty much, give or take the ability to hit notes, fundamentally about PERFORMANCE and CHARACTER - they're not really dissimilar fields. And plus a lot more openness to the concept of self-as-brand.

I think the UK is (eventually) going to go that way more and more. It wouldn't surprise me to see Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse in films a few years hence (if the latter is still alive anyway).

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's noticeable that none of us seem to have much difficulty of thinking of 'good' popstar actors but the writing and visual arts polls are much emptier!

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

Yes but acting is about being able to do different characters, which pop singing isn't (necessarily).

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

most pop singing is, if not explicitly. and you will notice I didn't say they were the same thing!

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

A lot of pop singing is (or is presented as) more "here are different sides of the same character" than "here are different characters". As you say, the self-as-brand. It's not all of it, and it's not impossible to do that in acting ("Here is Keanu on a bus" "Here is Keanu in a doublet"), but I think one is more accepted in one medium that the other. Though I may be putting my own interpretation on "good at acting" there.

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

bowie is a VERY TERRIBLE ACTOR, but lots of rappers seem naturally good

yr (ok and my) beloved costello is RUB in one of the austin powers movies AS HIMSELF

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

Haha he's in Talladega Nights as one of Sasha Baron Cohen's crew, I remember thinking "Who is that tw4t next to Mos Def?"

[sbp.livejournal.com]

Also American values of movie acting != UK values of movie and theatre moving acting. Often American actors are picked for their particular personality rather than the range of roles that they can portray.

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

No more than British actors (Hello Vinnie Jones)!

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

(and it's not even my personal interpretation - many of my favourite actors) just do the same character over and over (eg Keanu!)